Wallis and Edward Story.htm His Majesty King George V THE PLAY The story begins with Wallis Simpson's Presentation at Court in 1931, where she arrogantly presents her credentials in the song I'm Bessie Wallis Warfield Simpson, followed by her quickly deposing the Prince of Wales' former mistress Lady Thelma Furness. During Wallis' first visit to Edward's home Fort Belvedere, Noel Coward plays a snipit of this own very telling song If Love Were All . On an open invitation to cocktails, the Prince of Wales unexpectedly appears at the Simpson home in Bryanston Court where he crosses the line between friendship and more in the obssessive song Lost In The Blue. More frivolous partying at Fort Belvedere slithers into the fast-paced song Trend Setters where as international fashion icons we find they are so shallow that the only thing that matters is that they are the people everyone wants to be, and the people that everyone wants to see! The exposure of Wallis' dark side is revealed to King George V and the Royal Family, through the China Dossier, by Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and his proffering of ideas on how to rid England of Mrs.

Simpson, by calling upon all of the famous murderers and murderesses of history to come and do away with her in the comic ditty She's Got To Go (They Poison Popes Don't They?) ... all of which comes to naught following King George V's untimely demise. From the Proclamation of Accession of King Edward VIII, and his bartering of Wallis with husband Ernest Simpson in time for Wallis to, hopefully, be crowned Queen of England, and Wallis' self-proclaiming anthem - Going To Be Queen! To the fateful Nahlin Cruise where the world becames aware of their disastrous affair, and King Edward becomes a dangerous political dablatant amongst Eastern Europe's and Asia Minor's potentates in the song Positively Perfect Holiday Trip!

His Majesty King Edward VIII Proclamation of Accession of His Majesty King Edward VIII Prince of Wales with Lady Thelma Furness and His Caim Terriers Cora and Jaggs at York Cottage c1930 1936 The Year of the Three Kings - George V, George VI and Edward VIII His Royal Highness the Duke of York and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin Wallis' preliminary divorce comes through, and without wasting a moment King Edward pops the Mogul emerald engagement ring that evening, after which Wallis reiterates her right to be Queen, as being ordained, in the reprise of I'm Bessie Wallis Warfield Simpson. Their Suggested Morganatic marriage proposal is refused by Parliament and the Dominions. Crisis! The silence of the British press on their affair breaks! Drop Mrs. Simpson, marry her and the government will resign bringing about a possible fascist regime in England - or abdicate!

Meanwhile, in the vein of Osbert Sitwell's infamous essay and poem - Rat Week - about changing sides and allegiances, getting out while one still can and still save face, we find Lady Emerald Cunard and Lady Sybil Colefax singing the scathing double entendre diatribe Last Two Rats, in which Wallis Simpson is the sinking ship they need to abandon! Hoping desperately to crawl, unnoticed, aboard the about to be launched ship of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, so to speak! Wallis flees to France. As the Cross Channel Ferry departs England for France with his beloved Wallis, Edward sings - if you love something set it free, if it doesn't come back to you, it was never meant to be - in the poignantly blue As It Was Meant To Be. As Wallis dodges the ensuing reporters in France, enroute to The Riviera, in a phone conversation duet Wallis reminds Edward to Do What's Right For You, him being the only one that can make the decision to abdicate.

King Edward confronts his family with his Irrevocable Decision where we find out that his sister-in-law isn't at all opposed to taking over, in the reprise of Going To Be Queen! King Edward VIII says goodbye to the Throne and the world in his legendary Abdication Address, while Wallis in Southern France realizes that she has placed all her holdings on a horse that not only didn't show, but refused to run, as she sings I've Gambled All My Life. Momentary exile, five months, at which time, the now Duke of Windsor reveals to Wallis I Love You More Than You Love Me, in the ultimate song about obssession! Wallis' divorce is final. In planning their honeymoon, they decide to go where anyone would go - to visit Hitler in Berlin - Hitler even questions their motives in his brilliantly manipulative Hitlerspiel about evil doers... Niggers, Pansies And Jews! Wedding Day, June 3, 1937 - the first day of the rest of their life in permanent exile!

Meanwhile, the Elder Duchess in Paris in 1973, a year after the Duke of Windsor's death, has had her carefully chosen input since the beginning of the show, continuing to manipulate their story - in an attempt to refocus the years of blame! Singing I'd Rather Be Remembered, the Elder Wallis wants us to forget all that we've witnessed and remember her as someone who, always, only meant to do good! Prince Paul, Regent of Yugoslavia, and Princess Olga Edward, Prince of Wales, with Wallis and Ernest Simpson in Venice c 1934 King Edward VIII tours Sibenik, Yugoslavia with his assistant private secretary Tommy Lascelles before boarding the Nahlin.

Dickie Mountbatten escorts the Duchess of Windsor from Heathrow Airport to Buckingham Palace prior to the Duke of Windsor's 1972 funeral Wallis Simpson and King Edward VIII touring Athens during the fateful Nahlin cruise King Edward VIII bored and improperly dressed for a State Occasion, receives debutantes during their Presentation at Court, Buckingham Palace Garden, 21 July 1936 Lord and Lady Dickie Mountbatten with Best Man His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales 45 Duke and Duchess of Windsor near the end of their honeymoon, with Fern and Charles Bedaux at their home Borsod-Ivana in Hungary, before leaving for Berlin to visit Hitler, October 1937 46 The Chateau de Cande 47 Wallis Simpson, Aunt Bessie Merriman and Ernest Simpson at Baden-Baden c 1930 48 Duke of Windsor, having disembarked the Orient Express, is crossing the tracks at Verneuil l'Etang, France enroute to Wallis at the Chateau de Cande following his exile in Austria, 4 May 1937 49 Queen Elizabeth II, the Duchess of Windsor and Prince Phillip leaving St.

George's Chapel after the funeral of the Duke of Windsor, 5 June 1972 Items belonging to Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson give rare insight into their lives | Daily Mail Online Next Sold for £620k, the jewels that tell a royal love story: Items belonging to Duke of Windsor and Wallis Simpson give rare insight into their lives Treasures shedding light on one of the greatest love stories of the 20th century sell for £620,125 at auction Edward VIII's affair with divorcee Wallis Simpson shocked the nation forcing him to abdicate the throne in 1936 Couple exchanged diamonds and gifts made from precious stones, inscribed with heartfelt messages Watch fob engraved with the names David - the Royal family's name for Edward VIII - and Wallis sold as part of lot King Edward VIII Abdicated for Love King Edward VIII Abdicated for Love 1930 - 1939 King Edward VIII Abdicated for Love Wallis, Duchess of Windsor (1896-1986) and the Duke of Windsor (1894-1972) outside Goverment House in Nassau, the Bahamas. (circa 1942).

(Photo by Ivan Dmitri/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) By Jennifer Rosenberg Updated August 31, 2016. King Edward VIII did something that monarchs do not have the luxury of doing - he fell in love. King Edward was in love with Mrs. Wallis Simpson, not only an American, but also a married woman already once divorced. However, in order to marry the woman he loved, King Edward was willing to give up the British throne - and he did, on December 10, 1936. To some, this was the love story of the century. To others, it was a scandal that threatened to weaken the monarchy. In reality, the story of King Edward VIII and Mrs. Wallis Simpson never fulfilled either of these notions; instead, the story is about a prince who wanted to be like everyone else. Prince Edward Growing Up - His Struggle Between Royal and Common King Edward VIII was born Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David on June 23, 1894 to the Duke and Duchess of York (the future King George V and Queen Mary ).

His brother Albert was born a year and a half later, soon followed by a sister, Mary, in April 1897. continue reading below our video Test Your General Science Knowledge Three more brothers followed: Harry in 1900, George in 1902, and John in 1905 (died at age 14 from epilepsy ). Though his parents surely loved Edward, he thought of them as cold and distant. Edward's father was very strict which caused Edward to fear every call to his father's library, since it usually meant punishment. In May 1907, Edward, only 12 years old, was shipped off to the Naval College at Osborne . He was at first teased because of his royal identity, but soon garnered acceptance because of his attempt to be treated like any other cadet. After Osborne, Edward continued on to Dartmouth in May 1909. Though Dartmouth was also strict, Edward's stay there was less harsh. During the night on May 6, 1910, King Edward VII, Edward's grandfather who had been outwardly loving to Edward, passed away. Thus, Edward's father became king and Edward became the heir to the throne.

In 1911, Edward became the twentieth Prince of Wales. Besides having to learn some Welsh phrases, Edward was to wear a particular costume for the ceremony. [W]hen a tailor appeared to measure me for a fantastic costume . . . of white satin breeches and a mantle and surcoat of purple velvet edged with ermine, I decided things had gone too far. . . . [W]hat would my Navy friends say if they saw me in this preposterous rig?1 Though it is surely a natural feeling of teenagers to want to fit in, this feeling continued to grow in the prince. Prince Edward began to deplore being set on a pedestal or worshipped - anything that treated him as a "person requiring homage."2 As Prince Edward later wrote in his memoirs: And if my association with the village boys at Sandringham and the cadets of the Naval Colleges had done anything for me, it was to make me desperately anxious to be treated exactly like any other boy of my age.3 World War I In August 1914, when Europe became embroiled in World War I , Prince Edward asked for a commission.

The request was granted and Edward was soon posted to the 1st Battalion of the Grenadier Guards. The prince. however, was soon to learn that he was not going to be sent to battle. Prince Edward, extremely disappointed, went to argue his case with Lord Kitchener , the Secretary of State for War. In his argument, Prince Edward told Kitchener that he had four younger brothers who could become heir to the throne if he were killed in battle. While the prince had given a good argument, Kitchener stated that it was not Edward being killed that prevented him from being sent into battle, but rather, the possibility of the enemy taking the prince as prisoner.4 Though posted far from any battle (he was given a position with Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force, Sir John French ), the prince did witness some of the horrors of the war. And while he wasn't fighting on the front, Prince Edward won the respect of the common soldier for wanting to be there. Edward Likes Married Women Prince Edward was a very good-looking man. He had blonde hair and blue eyes and a boyish look on his face that lasted his entire life. Yet, for some reason, Prince Edward preferred married women.

In 1918, Prince Edward met Mrs. Winifred ("Freda") Dudley Ward . Despite the fact that they were about the same age (23), Freda had been married for five years when they met. For 16 years, Freda was Prince Edward's mistress. Edward also had a long-time relationship with Viscountess Thelma Furness. On January 10, 1931, Lady Furness hosted a party at her country house, Burrough Court, where, in addition to Prince Edward, Mrs. Wallis Simpson and her husband Ernest Simpson were invited. It was at this party the two first met. Prince Edward was soon to be infatuated with Mrs. Simpson; however, she didn't make a big impression on Edward at their first meeting. Mrs. Wallis Simpson Becomes Edward's Only Mistress Four months later, Edward and Mrs. Wallis Simpson met again and seven months after that the prince had dinner over at the Simpson's house (staying until 4 a.m.). And though Wallis was a frequent guest of Prince Edward's for the next two years, she was not yet the only woman in Edward's life.

In January 1934, Thelma Furness made a trip to the United States, entrusting Prince Edward to the care of Wallis in her absence. Upon Thelma's return, she found that she was no longer welcome in Prince Edward's life - even her phone calls were refused. Four months later, Mrs. Dudley Ward was similarly cut out of the prince's life. Mrs. Wallis Simpson was then the prince's single mistress. Who Was Mrs. Wallis Simpson? Mrs. Wallis Simpson has become an emotional figure in history. Along with this, many descriptions of her personality and motives for being with Edward have caused some extremely negative descriptions; the nicer onces range from witch to seductress. So who really was Mrs. Wallis Simpson? Mrs. Wallis Simpson was born Wallis Warfield on June 19, 1896 in Maryland, United States. Though Wallis came from a distinguished family in the United States, in the United Kingdom being an American was not highly regarded. Unfortunately, Wallis's father died when she was only five months old and left no money; thus his widow was forced to live off the charity given to her by her late husband's brother.

As Wallis grew into a young woman, she was not necessarily considered pretty.5 However, Wallis had a sense of style and pose that made her distinguished and attractive. She had radiant eyes, good complexion and fine, smooth black hair which she kept parted down the middle for most of her life. Wallis' First and Second Marriages On November 8, 1916 Wallis Warfield married Lieutenant Earl Winfield ("Win") Spencer, a pilot for the U.S. Navy. The marriage was reasonably good until the end of World War I, as it was with many ex-soldiers who became bitter at the inconclusiveness of the war and had difficulty adapting back to civilian life. After the armistice, Win began to drink heavily and also became abusive. Wallis eventually left Win and lived six years by herself in Washington. Win and Wallis weren't yet divorced and when Win begged her to rejoin him, this time in China where he had been posted in 1922, she went. Things seemed to be working out until Win started drinking again. This time Wallis left him for good and sued for a divorce, which was granted in December 1927.

In July 1928, only six months after her divorce, Wallis married Ernest Simpson, who worked in the family shipping business. After their marriage, they settled down in London. It was with her second husband that Wallis was invited to social parties and invited to Lady Furness's house where she first met Prince Edward. Who Seduced Whom? While many blame Mrs. Wallis Simpson for seducing the prince, it seems rather more likely that she was herself seduced by the glamor and power of being close to the heir of Britain's throne. At first, Wallis was just glad to have become included in the prince's circle of friends. According to Wallis, it was in August 1934 that their relationship became more serious. During that month, the prince took a cruise on Lord Moyne's yacht, the Rosaura. Although both Simpsons were invited, Ernest Simpson could not accompany his wife on the cruise because of a business trip to the United States. It was on this cruise, Wallis stated, that she and the prince "crossed the line that marks the indefinable boundary between friendship and love."6 Prince Edward became increasingly infatuated with Wallis. But did Wallis love Edward?

Again, many people have said that she did not and that she was a calculating woman who either wanted to be queen or who wanted money. It seems more probable that while she was not infatuated with Edward, she loved him. Edward Becomes King At five minutes to midnight on January 20, 1936, King George V, Edward's father, passed away. Upon King George V's death, Prince Edward became King Edward VIII. To many, Edward's grief over his father's death seemed much greater than the grieving of his mother or his siblings. Though death affects people differently, Edward's grief might have been greater for his father's death also signified his acquisition of the throne, complete with the responsibilities and eminence that he deplored. King Edward VIII didn't win many supporters at the beginning of his reign. His first act as the new king was to order the Sandringham clocks , which were always a half an hour fast, set to the correct time. This symbolized to many a king who was to deal with the trivial and who rejected his father's work. Still, the government and the people of Great Britain had high hopes for King Edward.

He had seen war, traveled the world, been to every part of the British empire , seemed sincerely interested in social problems, and had a good memory. So what went wrong? Many things. First, Edward wanted to change many of the rules and become a modern monarch. Unfortunately, this caused Edward to distrust many of his advisors because he saw them as symbols and perpetuators of the old order. He dismissed many of them. Also, in an effort to reform and curb monetary excesses, he cut the salaries of many royal staff employees to an extreme degree. Employees became unhappy. The king also began to be late or cancel appointments and events at the last minute. State papers that were sent to him were not protected, some statesmen worried that German spies had access to these papers. At first these papers were returned promptly, but soon it would be weeks before they were returned, some of which had obviously not even been looked at. Wallis Distracted the King One of the main reasons he was late or canceled events was because of Mrs. Wallis Simpson. His infatuation with her had grown so extreme that he was severely distracted from his State duties. Some thought she might be a German spy handing State papers over to the German government.

The relationship between King Edward and Mrs. Wallis Simpson came to an impasse when the king received a letter from Alexander Hardinge, the king's private secretary, that warned him that the press would not remain silent much longer and that the government might resign en masse if this continued. King Edward was faced with three options: give up Wallis, keep Wallis and government would resign, or abdicate and give up the throne. Since King Edward had decided that he wanted to marry Mrs. Wallis Simpson (he told Walter Monckton that he had decided to marry her as early as 1934), he had little choice but to abdicate.7 King Edward VIII Abdicates Whatever her original motives, until the end, Mrs. Wallis Simpson didn't mean for the king to abdicate. Yet the day soon came when King Edward VIII was to sign the papers that would end his rule. At 10 a.m.

on December 10, 1936, King Edward VIII, surrounded by his three surviving brothers, signed the six copies of the Instrument of Abdication: I, Edward the Eighth, of Great Britain, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Emperor of India, do hereby declare My irrevocable determination to renounce the Throne for Myself and for My descendants, and My desire that effect should be given to this Instrument of Abdication immediately.8 The Duke and Duchess of Windsor At the moment of King Edward VIII's abdication, his brother Albert, the next in line for the throne, became King George VI (Albert was the father of Queen Elizabeth II ). On the same day as the abdication, King George VI bestowed upon Edward the family name of Windsor. Thus, Edward became the Duke of Windsor and when he married, Wallis became the Duchess of Windsor. Mrs. Wallis Simpson sued for a divorce from Ernest Simpson, which was granted, and Wallis and Edward married in a small ceremony on June 3, 1937.

To Edward's great sorrow, he received a letter on the eve of his wedding from King George VI stating that by abdicating, Edward was no longer entitled to the tile "Royal Highness." But, out of generosity for Edward, King George was going to allow Edward the right to hold that title, but not his wife or any children. This greatly pained Edward for the rest of his life, for it was a slight to his new wife. After the abdication, the Duke and Duchess were exiled from Great Britain. Although a number of years had not been established for the exile, many believed it would only last a few years; instead, it lasted their entire lives. Royal family members shunned the couple. The Duke and Duchess lived out most of their lives in France with the exception of a short term in the Bahamas as governor. Edward passed away on May 28, 1972, a month shy of his 78th birthday. Wallis lived for 14 more years, many of which were spent in bed, secluded from the world. She passed away on April 24, 1986, two months shy of 90. 1.

Christopher Warwick, Abdication (London: Sidgwick & Jackson, 1986) 29. 2. Warwick, Abdication 30. 7) The Abdication Crisis: Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson From the French Revolution to World War II Topic: "Majesties and Royal Highnesses" by Laura Cenicola & Mareike Aumann 7) The Abdication Crisis: Edward VIII and Mrs. Simpson Contact Edward VIII was born on 23rd of June 1894 and he belonged to the House of Windsor. His father, King George V , died on 20th of January 1936 and so Edward ascended to the throne. His reign didn't last a long time, because he abdicated already eleven month later on 11th of December 1936. Edward, who was then no longer named "King Edward VIII ", but "Duke of Windsor" died on 28th of May 1972. But why did he abdicate? And why is this historical fact called "The Abdication Crisis"?

Edward's life: Childhood - Reign - Abdication for love - Marriage Edward's first years: Edward was born in Richmond (England) on 23rd of June 1894. The title he was born into was "His Highness Prince Edward of York". Edward was the eldest son of King George V and Princess Victoria Mary of Teck. His full name was "Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David" - like this he was baptised. When his father became King George V Edward automatically got the titles "Duke of Cornwall" and "Duke of Rothesay" and in addition to that, King George V gave him the titles "Prince of Wales" and "Earl of Chester" as well. Edward in the forces: When Edward was 18 years old the First World War broke out and Edward wanted to join the army and actively do something for his country. He even wanted to serve on the front lines, but he wasn't allowed to, because the life of the heir to the throne shouldn't be jeopardized.

Instead, Edward decided to remain active in the Royal Army in other ways and in addition to that he even joined the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, which made him very popular among the people and the veterans in particular. Edward at the age of 35 - still a bachelor: Fort Belvedere: In 1930, Fort Belvedere, a royal residence near Sunningdale, Berkshire was given to Edward by his father King George V . There Edward began to have love affairs with women - mostly married women. Amongst them was Thelma Furness, born Thelma Morgan, who introduced Edward to her Amercian friend Mrs. Wallis Simpson, born Bessie Wallis Warfield, at a private party in 1931. Mrs. Simpson was already in her second marriage, because the marriage with her former man, Mr. Winfield Spencer, broke down and they got divorced. Mrs. Simpson and Edward then began to have a relationship with each other and the people accepted Mrs. Simpson as Edward's mistress for the time being, although Edward himself didn't want Mrs. Simpson to be called like that.

Only Edward's father, King George V , was disgusted to see that his son, the heir to the throne, had that many relationships with married women and that he somehow wasn't able to find an 'appropriate' wife. King George V was even said to have liked it better, if his second son Albert would b ecome King after him instead of Edward. After some years Mrs. Simpson and Edward spent together having a love affair, they seriously fell in love with each other and it seemed as if nobody could part them ever again, although Mrs. Wallis Simpson was still married to Mr. Ernest Simpson. Please have a look at the video below, showing Edward and Wallis Simpson talking about their first meeting: 1936: Ascendant to the throne - King Edward VIII : On 20th of January 1936, King George V died and so his eldest son Edward began his reign as King Edward VIII . During his reign King Edward travelled a lot - Mrs. Wallis Simpson with him on almost every single trip. In July Ernest Simpson moved out of the still married couple's home and it was found out that he had a love affair with another woman himself as well. The marriage was crumbling.

Already a month later, in August, King Edward and Mrs. Wallis Simpson were seen on several journeys along the Turkish, Greek and Yugoslav coasts. Mrs. Simpson often joined King Edward on his trips, but as it became public that the marriage between Wallis and Ernest Simpson was about to be on the rocks, the people and the government in particular began to speculate about the kind of relationship between Edward and Mrs. Simpson. How was this about to go on? Divorce of Mrs. Wallis Simpson: In October King Edward rented a house for Wallis Simpson, in which she then settled down. The situation got more and more critical, because nobody knew what Edward and his mistress had planned for their future. A few days later, still in October, Stanley Baldwin confronted the King with his relationship to Mrs. Simpson, giving Edward his advice to deal with their relationship more discreetly, because the whole government didn't approve of their affair. Acting in defiance, Mrs. Simpson then declared in public that she planned to get divorced a second time. At the end of October the divorce case 'Simpson' was heard in court and for the time being a decree nisi was granted.

Marriage announced - Government in shock: In November King Edward VIII wanted to talk to his favourite adviser and Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and so he invited him to Buckingham Palace. There Edward announced that he intended to marry Mrs. Wallis Simpson. Baldwin, having already expected something like that, told Edward that the people and the members of government in particular wouldn't accept that marriage because of the fact that Mrs. Simpson would automatically become queen of the country. According to Baldwin, the people wouldn't be happy with that woman as their queen and their voice should be heard. Nevertheless Baldwin suggested three options for King Edward VIII : Royal Marriage: Edward and Mrs. Simpson marry each other and she becomes Queen, although everybody seemed to oppose that kind of option. It would have been likely that Edward's ministers resigned if the option of a royal marriage had been chosen. Morganatic Marriage: Edward and Mrs. Simpson marry each other, but Mrs. Simpson does not become Queen and receives another courtesy title instead. Abdication: Edward abdicates and is no longer King. He would then be able to marry Mrs. Simpson without having to think of the opinion of the people and the government anymore.

Since Edward was not only the King of England, but also of Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and South Africa, the Prime Minister s of these countries had to agree to the possible marriage as well. However, the majority said that they do not see any alternative to option no 3. Edward prepared for exactly that option. Finding the right option: King Edward VIII met with Stanley Baldwin again, in order to tell him his decision: Edward suddenly wanted a morganatic marriage, option no 2. This would have been a great compromise in Edward's eyes: He is able to remain King, but Wallis Simpson would not be Queen - the people and the govenment should feel happy with that option as well. Baldwin then raised the proposal in the Cabinet, but the other Commonwealth countries didn't approve of that idea and so, on 9th of December 1936, King Edward VIII informed the government of his irrevocable decision to abdicate. The next day Edward signed the Instrument of Abdication. King Edward's signature: Mrs. Wallis Simpson and the press: At the beginning of the affair of Edward and Mrs. Simpson the British press remained silent.

All over the world photographs and articles about the relationship were published, but in Britain the silence of the press was maintained. When Edward and Mrs. Simpson announced their plans for a marriage, the newspapers exploded. Mrs. Simpson then left Britain for France as an attempt to escape the sudden attention on her. The general opinion that was spread by the press was that Mrs. Simpson only wanted to marry the King for the love of money or position in society and not for the love of the King as a person. While Edward was quite popular in the overall opinion of his country's people, Mrs. Simpson has always been the 'baddie' who has somehow reached to have complete control over the King. Nobody could really understand why Edward loved that woman - who was not only twice divorced, but also an American! At the beginning of the year 1937 the press published the photo you can see on the right. Edward and Mrs. Simpson visited Germany and were personal guests of Adolf Hitler, who is said to have uttered a sentence like "Mrs. Simpson would have made a good Queen".

She was then accused by the press, the government and finally the British people as well to be a German agent, delivering information to Joachim von Ribbentrop . Furthermore she was even portrayed as a possible Nazi sympathiser. Abdication for love in public: On 11th of December Edward broadcasts his decision on the BBC via radio not only to the British people, but to a worldwide audience. Find the written version of his speech here . Find the spoken version of his speech below. Edward was the first and the only British Monarch so far who abdicated voluntarily. His brother was proclaimed King George VI on 12th of December 1937. Edward's new title then was "Duke of Windsor". He was now able to do whatever he wanted to do as a 'normal Briton'. Marriage - Finally: In May 1937 Mrs. Simpson's decree absolute finally came through. She was then legally understood as a divorced woman who is free to remarry another man. One month later, on 3rd of June 1937, Edward and Wallis marry each other in France.

After such a to and fro, they finally were able to show the whole world their love to each other. Wallis' new title was 'Duchess of Windsor' or just Wallis Warfield, her maiden name. The happy couple spent the rest of their lives living in France. Edward and Wallis remained a married couple until Edward died on 28th of May 1972. Against the gossip of nearly the whole world, the marriage proved to have been a happy one, although even the Royal Family never fully accepted Wallis, who died 14 years later on 24th April 1986. The bodies of Edward and Wallis were returned to Britain and they were buried alongside to each other in the Royal Burial Ground, which is behind the Royal Mausoleum of Queen Victoria at Frogmore. One day after Edward's death, this newspaper article was published. Please download the article of the "Chronicle Telegram" (May 29th, 1972) and read it. It is called "Duke of Windsor: Never regretted trading his throne for a divorcee", putting the whole abdication crisis in a nutshell. "Edward & Mrs.

Simpson" Reviews & Ratings - IMDb IMDb trailers and videos full cast and crew trivia official sites memorable quotes Overview 25 out of 28 people found the following review useful: Baldwin's Crowning Achievement - Which We Should Thank Him For from United States 11 May 2005 There was a time that the abdication of King Edward VIII in December 1936 was considered one of the most romantic and beautiful gestures of modern times. After all, the ruler of the greatest empire in modern time gave it away willingly because he could not rule comfortably without the love and assistance of the woman he loved. It certainly is a beautiful gesture. But the truth was uglier. Frances Donaldson wrote the biography that was the basis of this series, and showed that the good natured Prince of Wales was a lightweight in terms of understanding the key to modern British monarchy - public service comes first. As titular head of the Church of England, Edward had a moral obligation of setting a good example. It was accepted that he (like his grandfather Edward VII) could have a girl friend who might have a current husband, or could not legally marry the ruler. Edward VII understood this.

He and Alice Keppel had a close, long standing affair (as he had prior to her with Daisy, Countess of Warwick, Lily Langtry, and others). But he always returned to his wife Alexandra. Edward could not understand this, and instead of keeping the twice divorced Wallis Warfield Simpson as his girlfriend, he decided to marry her. Seventy years later one might see this done - Edward's grandnephew Charles has just married his long time girlfriend Camilla Parker-Bowes. But Charles first wife Diane has been dead seven years. Even now however, many people are disappointed by Charles behavior. What Donaldson brought out was that Edward was too pro-German. He was willing to let bygones be bygones, but he went beyond that by attending meetings with German war veterans. Later he openly was friendly to Nazi leaders like Hitler and Goering. During World War II, although in the Bahamas, he attracted many Nazi supporters there, and he may have botched the investigation into the murder of Sir Harry Oakes because of Nazi involvement. Enter the Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin. He was usually involved in normal political matters, but the King's demands to wed Mrs.

Simpson brought about a political crisis...one that Baldwin loathed. He was fully sick of the reason for this crisis and he did not like the young monarch, who seemed more attuned to taking long vacations than doing his job as monarch. Baldwin certainly distrusted Edward's liking for Germany and it's regime. So he stage managed (beautifully, by the way) the refusal of most of the leading portions of the Empire/Commonwealth of any marriage. Australia, Canada, both Irelands, India, South Africa all rejected the marriage for moral reasons (New Zealand actually supported the King). He managed to keep the story out of British papers (outside of Britain everyone was aware of it). Then the Archbishop of Canterbury learned of it, and all hell broke loose. Wallis urged her lover to forget the whole matter for the time. Edward refused, and gave away the throne. His brother George would turn out to be a better King, and one not in love with Germany. Edward Fox and Cynthia Harris were very good as Edward and Wallis.

David Waller, a British character actor - usually in comedies - played Baldwin as he should be played, as a cagey customer who by getting rid of the King helped the Allied cause immeasurably. Peggy Ashcroft as the Queen is excellent too. If they show it again you should catch it. Was the above review useful to you? 11 out of 14 people found the following review useful: This is probably my favorite movie of all time. from McMinnville, TN 13 January 2001 I thoroughly enjoy British history. This movie is a fine and accurate adaptation of the life of King Edward VIII who fell helplessly in love with Wallis Warfield Simpson. The actors are top-notch, the location scenes feel authentic, and the music is very enjoyable. The movie opens with the (then) Prince Edward going on an African Safari, accompanied by one of his (married) lovers. Soon after, he meets up with Wallis and the rest, as they say, truly is history. This is a rather long movie, but I have enjoyed it many, many times. Was the above review useful to you?

9 out of 11 people found the following review useful: Great dramatization of the story! from United States 24 September 2005 Highly recommended for lovers of history and/or biography. The actors were carefully chosen to resemble the real characters, same goes for the locations. I've read many books regarding the love story between Edward and Mrs. Simpson - this comes very close to what really happened. I do believe Edward fell madly, totally in love with Mrs. Simpson. She returned his love but in a lesser degree. Regardless, theirs was the wedding of the century because how often does a monarch give up his throne for the woman he loves? It's ironic how Prince Charles has followed in the footsteps of his great-uncle, but it looks like he will get to reign with the woman he loves by his side. That's life. Was the above review useful to you? 5 out of 6 people found the following review useful: Slow Moving Character Study with some Very Fine Performances from Canada 27 April 2009 The Story of King Edward VIII who abdicated the British Throne so that he could marry the American divorcée Wallis Simpson.

The story begins in the period leading up to the death of Edward's father George V and concludes shortly after his abdication. While it is interesting for its detailed take on both the relationship and the steps that led to the abdication it may not be enough to hold the attention of those without an interest in history or the British Royal family. Most of the story is told through conversations and meetings. In addition to its portrayals of the title characters it also presents interesting portrayals of Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin and Queen Mary and though less time is devoted to them; George V, George VI and future Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Clement Atlee. The series is buoyed by a superb performance by Edward Fox as Edward, but I found Cynthia Harris's performance as Wallis Simpson somewhat less inspiring. There are no obvious flaws to point out, and my apathy might also have come from how the character was written. There is also as to expected from a drama of this sort a good supporting cast highlighted by Peggy Ashcroft and Nigel Hawthorne. Amongst family and friends Edward who was born Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David was known as David and this is how he is referred to throughout the series.

This was a seven part British television mini-series, so if you are interested its almost 6 hours in length and 2 DVD's. The series won an Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series in addition to a number of BAFTA awards. Was the above review useful to you? 4 out of 5 people found the following review useful: A Grand Historical Drama from United States 10 April 2009 I have long been intrigued by the tale of Edward VIII, the English king who gave up the throne to be with the woman he loved an American divorcée named Wallis Simpson. Imagine my surprise at discovering that not only was there a miniseries about it but that one of my favorite actors (Edward Fox) was playing the famed King himself. The result is a rather grand, if slightly overlong, historical drama. As in the case of many a historical drama, the cast is fine one. Edward Fox gives one of the finest performances of his career as the famed King Edward VIII from the dashing playboy Prince Of Wales to the man who gives up the throne for the woman he loves. Cynthia Harris gives a nice performance as the woman he loved Wallis Simpson though she does have a tendency to overact.

Thankfully both Fox and Harris share a nice chemistry between them that makes them quite convincing as the famed couple. The supporting cast is fine as well. David Waller gives a fine performance as the Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin who tires to keep the government together in the midsts of the crisis caused by the title characters as does Peggy Ashcroft as the famed Queen Mary. From Nigel Hawthorne as Edward's friend Walter Monkton to Wensley Pithey as Winston Churchill to Charles Keating as Wallis husband Ernest Simpson to Marius Goring and Patrick Troughton as opposition leader Clement Attlee the cast is a fine one and makes this drama well worth seeing. Things are strong behind the camera as well. The sets by Allan Cameron and the costumes by Jennie Tate perfectly capture the spirit of the 1930's in which this famed story took place. The score and opening song by Ron Grainer also captures the atmosphere of the 1930's as well. Even better, the script by Simon Raven (from the biography Edrward VIII by Frances Donaldson) is a true highlight. With its attention to details and events the script gives a detailed study of a royal romance that doesn't quite end happily.

The dialouge in particular makes the production stand out and gives the whole production an epic quality thanks to the wonderful direction of Waris Hussein. If the miniseries has any fault it is that it seems overlong. At seven fifty minute episodes (or right around six hours) it feels as though it could have been trimmed down at times. There aren't many slow moments in the miniseries but one wonders if those scenes trimmed could have made Edward & Mrs. Simpson slightly shorter. Despite is length Edward & Mrs. Simpson is a fine drama. From its two leading actors to the supporting cast, production values, direction and writing this is a fine example of the art of the miniseries. For fans of fine historical dramas look no further then Edward & Mrs. Simpson. Was the above review useful to you? 4 out of 6 people found the following review useful: A moving depiction of a troubled time from United States 6 June 2009 If you watch this TV movie you will get a slow, gentle insight into the pre-World War II period. It is beautifully done: the sets, the costuming, the acting all blend to be the late 1930's.

It is a touching story, but some of the actual meaning has been left out, leaving us with a one-sided, positive feeling about the lead characters. It was a noble thing for a king to abdicate for his love, no? Well, perhaps, but the truth is that he was forced out without his fighting for the crown. (Lots of anguish, yes, but no fight.) The character of Wallis Simpson was overly simplified to make her appear to be more blameless than she was in reality, less manipulating, and attractive. I don't recall any of the rumors of her German leanings being mentioned, which may be just as well since they have been heavily discounted and are probably not true. Barring this one flaw of not presenting Mrs. Simpson as she has become known to be (and was rumored to be at the time), the movie is excellent. Schedule several days to watch it and don't try to cram it into one session. It takes a little settling time between episodes. (The documentary accompanying the movie must be seen after watching the movie. Don't watch it first!) Was the above review useful to you?

2 out of 3 people found the following review useful: educational, enlightening and entertaining from New Zealand 11 December 2010 I have long wanted to see this series, having only read Royal Feud so far as background. I watched the first half, then as there was a delay in obtaining the second half, I read the book written by the Duchess of Windsor, The Heart has its reasons. Now I have just finished the second half and feel that I have had a well-rounded view of what went on. I did feel (contrary to what previous reviewers have said) that maybe it missed a few things and could perhaps have been longer! I have always felt instinctively that Wallis Simpson had a raw deal. She has been cast by history as a manipulator, a gold-digger and a not-very-nice kind of woman. Well history is always written by the victors as we have long known - Richard III's story is evidence of that - and there is nothing to really support that. I feel sad that so much power has been wielded by churches over the centuries, (I'm not the first as Henry VIII shows) because without the censure from the Archbishop of Canterbury maybe some other way could have been found.

However, this man loved this woman and made a grand gesture, and we hope, lived happily ever after. It was a huge burden to put on one woman's shoulders but she bore it with dignity to the end of her days. The series was extremely well-done, the acting faultless and the writing most likely very accurate to historical fact. (I did think that some of the furnishings looked a bit shabby). I am British and I remember being told by older family members what a shocking and awful thing Edward/David had done. I don't agree - sometimes you have to do what for you is right, and he did. I admire him for that. Ironically, the late Queen Mother was rumoured to have fancied Edward/David first unsuccessfully; well if she wanted to be queen, then she got her wish. Just shows you should never wish for anything! With the perspective of the 21st century, it's good to see that society has slowly become more accepting and less judgemental. Thoroughly enjoyable to all who enjoy history being brought to life. Was the above review useful to you?

2 out of 3 people found the following review useful: The woman he loved 2 June 2010 *** This review may contain spoilers *** The scandal that brought down a King is examined in detail in this 1978 English miniseries. We meet Edward, Prince of Wales (Edward Fox), who eschews royal responsibilities and propriety in favor of a rather hedonistic life style. He'd had a string of affairs before he met Wallis Simpson (Cynthia Harris), a once-divorced, married American woman in 1931. She is shown to be a calculating spider, he the willing fly. When he becomes King and insists upon marrying her, his actions threaten to destroy the monarchy. Edward Fox is perfectly cast as the spoiled and boyish Prince; it is a pleasure to watch him completely inhabit the character. Cynthia Harris, on the other hand, is never believable as Mrs. Simpson; none of her lines sound spontaneous and her stiff acting weakens the show. The supporting cast, including Peggy Ashcroft as Queen Mary, is wonderful, but the scenes where Edward's advisors endlessly debate the sticky situation are tedious.

Still, it's a fascinating story despite its faults and it's fun to watch the Royals' private lives. Was the above review useful to you? Excellent writing and acting 3 August 2012 *** This review may contain spoilers *** This is certainly one of the best historic dramatisations ever made for television. Based on a deeply researched book and with the technical advice of the author, Simon Raven's scripts succeed in 'showing' us the story rather than simply 'telling' it. The character development of Wallis Simpson is a fine example of this. At first we see her as quite obviously socially ambitious, determined to work her way into Edward's private circle of friends. Once she has achieved this, she ensures the former lovers who helped her are excluded (and we see their hurt feelings). Having got her feet well under the table she begins to take over Edward's life, to the extent of getting him to neglect his official duties for her benefit. Finally her victory is complete: on vacation someone asks the King his plans for the next day and he says "Wallis, what are our plans for tomorrow?" She has taken control. Both lead performances are flawless.

The supporting cast is a superb ensemble of British character actors who play their historical roles excellently. Some highlight David Waller's Baldwin, but John Shrapnel's increasingly frustrated (and disgusted) equerry Major Hardinge is equally compelling. Compared with today's 'historical' series about 'The Tudors' or 'Rome', this is highly intelligent and thoughtful drama. Only the technical aspects make it seem a little dated with studio scenes shot on video and exteriors on film (standard for UK television in the 1970's). Still, this is excellent viewing and well worth watching. Was the above review useful to you? 1 out of 4 people found the following review useful: A different view from United States 22 October 2013 While we enjoy watching this interesting and historical movie, our enjoyment is somewhat tempered by our relationship to the film. My wife and I were extras in the Kenya segment of the film and had the opportunity and misfortune to see Edward Fox, a second-rate actor who should get down on his knees every morning to thank whatever powers that be that his brother gave him his breakout chance in film, behave as the spoiled and undeserving brat he is.

He treated everyone around him as though he was the only true human in the area. At one point he reduced one young woman to tears when she was a (very) few seconds late running to hold a mirror for him to check that his face and makeup were up to his high standards. This young woman was making a tiny fraction of Mr. Fox's salary but she was worth twenty of him. In contrast, the fine actress Cherie Lunghi, who was not on camera at the time, asked the extras if they would like some tea. It was only when she stood up for her section of the shoot that we realized that she was ,in fact, a cast member, and hundreds of times more gracious than Mr. Fox. Was the above review useful to you?

Edward, Mrs Simpson and their secret love nest: The £18m genteel home that played key role in the affair that rocked the nation | Daily Mail Online Edward, Mrs Simpson and their 'secret love nest': The £18m genteel home that played key role in the affair that rocked the nation London mansion where Edward VIII seduced Wallis Simpson on sale Former owner of the house was also a mistress of Edward VIII Primrose Hill property is on the market for £18million comments It may look eminently respectable with its neat, double-fronted facade – but this house hides scandalous Royal secrets. In the 1930s, the property – now on the market for £18 million – was the love nest of the Prince of Wales, who later became Edward VIII and famously stunned the nation by abdicating to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson. In 1930 the mansion, just north of Regent’s Park, was the London home of Viscountess Furness, who was then Edward’s mistress. And it may also be the place where Edward romanced Mrs Simpson, since it is claimed that she also stayed there and was visited by the Prince.

Secret meetings: The house in Primrose Hill, West London, where it is alleged Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson played out their affair Historian Anne Sebba, who wrote the Duchess of Windsor’s biography, That Woman: The Life Of Wallis Simpson, said of the Prince of Wales: ‘He liked to visit his mistresses in their own home.' Lady Furness lived in the mansion with her husband, Marmaduke, the first Viscount Furness. RELATED ARTICLES Share this article Share He was chairman of Furness Withy shipbuilders and one of the richest men in Britain at the time. His wife, Thelma, was an American socialite. Wallis Simpson’s husband Ernest was a shipping executive, and both he and Wallis were American by birth. The two couples were introduced to each other through a mutual friend at the US Embassy in London. Royal affair: The Duke and Duchess of Windsor after their marriage The Prince was part of the Furnesses’ set. Apart from their London home in Elsworthy Road, which was then known as Kirbygate, the Furnesses had a prestigious country house, Burrough Court, near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire – prime foxhunting territory.

The Prince, a passionate devotee of field sports, was a regular guest. Seok Swycher, who owns the Elsworthy Road house with her husband Stuart, an international property developer, is curious to find out for certain the role played by the property in the Royal affair that provoked a constitutional crisis. Seok, who is downsizing, said: ‘When we bought the house more than 30 years ago, it was dilapidated and was three separate flats. We restored it into a proper family home. But I remember, when the building work was going on, that a couple walked by and told me Wallis and Ernest Simpson once lived here. ‘We knew the Furnesses lived here, and so we can only assume that at some point the Furnesses let the Simpsons use one of the apartments. ‘Maybe the Simpsons were looking for a base in London, or perhaps they were between addresses, but the lady had a definite memory that they actually lived here at 48 Elsworthy Road. She even remembered seeing the Prince turning up at the house in his Bentley.’ Thelma – pronounced the Spanish way: Telma – married the Viscount in 1926. It was a second marriage for each of them.

Thelma and the Prince of Wales grew close in 1930 when they went on safari in east Africa. The Prince first met the Simpsons in January 1931, at Burrough Court. The couple had been invited to join a weekend house party to act as chaperone to Thelma, whose husband was away. Shedding light: The living room of the property where the then Prince of Wales may have had not one but two mistresses in Wallis Simpson and the Viscountess Furness London mansion: The kitchen in the £18million property which originally consisted of three apartments but has been converted into a family home Thelma then became the Prince’s regular companion at his home, Fort Belvedere in Sunningdale, Berkshire, where the Simpsons were also regular weekend guests. The affair continued until 1934, when Thelma decided to spend three months in New York. Before sailing, she took Wallis to The Ritz for lunch and asked her to ‘look after’ the Prince while she was away. The Simpsons were then living in Bryanston Court, near Marble Arch, where they held daily cocktail parties. The Prince became a regular guest, often staying for dinner and even later.

By the time Thelma returned from New York, she had been ousted by Wallis in the Prince’s affections. The Viscount and Thelma divorced in 1933 but records show that in 1934 he was still paying the rates on the Elsworthy Road house and a rate book for the address reveals that Viscountess Thelma Furness was the occupier. Local council records also include reference to the house in a book entitled Streets Of Belsize, which states: ‘No 48 has a history; in the early 1930s, it belonged to Viscount Furness, whose wife Thelma had, says the DNB [Dictionary Of National Biography], a “passing affair with the Prince of Wales; he was reputedly a frequent visitor to this house”.’ The Arts and Crafts-style 1903 home has seven bedrooms over three storeys.

020 7722 7222 King Edward VIII | Britroyals Died: May 28, 1972 at Paris, aged 77 years, 11 months, and 3 days Buried at: Frogmore Reigned for: 10 months, and 21 days, Abdicated: December 11, 1936 Succeeded by: his brother George VI Eldest son of King George V he was a popular Prince of Wales seen as a handsome young modernising influence on royal institutions. He served in the Army during World War I but was forbidden to go to the front line. He was known as David to his family, but his relationship with his parents deteriorated as he became a celebrity playboy who failed to settle down and had several affairs with married women. He became King Edward VIII in January 1936 on the death of his father George V.

In November 1936 a constitutional crisis arose when Edward wished to marry Mrs Wallis Simpson; it was felt that, as a she had already divorced her first husband and at the time Edward and Wallis had met she was still married to her second husband, she was pursuing the King because of his wealth and position and would be unacceptable as queen. On 11 December Edward abdicated and left for France, where the couple were married in 1937. He was succeeded by his brother Albert as George VI. Edward and Wallis became The Duke and Duchess of Windsor, but were ostracised by his family who felt he had let them down and not done his duty. His views of appeasement on the rise of fascism in Germany and Italy and meeting with Adolf Hitler in 1937 led him to be given the role during World War II of Governor of the Bahamas out of the way of the war effort amid concerns of German plots to kidnap and use him. After the war they became mild celebrities in Europe and America but lived mostly in Paris where he died in 1972. They had no children.

King Edward VIII's Signature How Britian covered up the friendship between Hitler & Edward VIII | New York Post How Britian covered up the friendship between Hitler & Edward VIII Modal Trigger History has romanticized Edward VIII as the king of hearts, the man who gave up the throne for the love of an American divorcee, Wallis Simpson. But the truth is far darker, says author Andrew Morton, Princess Diana’s official biographer. In his new book, “17 Carnations: The Royals, the Nazis and the Biggest Cover-Up in History,” Morton unveils how Edward VIII openly sympathized with the Nazis — a fact the British leadership desperately attempted to hide. Here, adapted from his book, Morton reveals the shocking story the royals tried to ban. In the final days of World War II, US Army Capt. David Silverberg was fighting the stubborn remnants of the Nazi army near the town of Meisdorf in what was to become Communist East Germany. He spotted an abandoned truck, sprinkled with a confetti of wet and burnt paper. When he examined it more closely, he saw that they were government documents, some signed by Adolf Hitler’s right-hand man, Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop.

Soon he and his men came across fortified buildings stuffed to the rafters with secret Nazi papers. Days later, a battered metal canister buried on a remote German estate was uncovered. Inside was a microfilm revealing the evil beating heart of the Nazi government machine. The Allied “documents men” realized this find was dynamite and planned to release the damning papers, which revealed in writing the twisted megalomania of Hitler and other top Nazi leaders. They wanted to show the world that the sacrifice had been necessary to overthrow these bloodthirsty tyrants. Then they came across a file that stopped them in their tracks. It concerned the ex-king of England, now the Duke of Windsor, who had abdicated his throne in 1936 so that he could marry twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson. That decision rocked the monarchy. Now it was feared that these latest revelations, documents revealing his relationship with Hitler, the secret plot to make him a puppet king after the Nazis had invaded England and his defeatist comments about the necessity for the Germans to bomb Britain into submission, could blow the monarchy sky high.

The 17 carnations The Duke of Windsor, fourth from left, and the Duchess of Windsor, third from left, visit German Chancellor Adolf Hitler, fifth from left, at his home in Berchtesgaden in the Bavarian Alps, Germany.AP What most people did not realize is that Hitler had spent years courting Edward. His wooing began soon after he became German chancellor in 1933. He encouraged Princess Friederike, the teenage daughter of German nobility, to romance the bachelor prince. Hitler hoped for a return to the days of Queen Victoria, when English royalty only married German royalty. Unfortunately for Hitler, Friederike’s aristocratic parents, both ardent Nazis, claimed later that she was too young to marry the future king of England. Instead, Hitler sent a slew of German aristocrats, many blood relatives of the Windsors, to London to collect intelligence on the prince and the rest of the royal family. Foreign minister, Joachim Von Ribbentrop (left) and Adolf Hitler in 1939.AP They soon discovered that the prince looked west to America when it came to love affairs. Two of his lovers, Thelma Furness and Freda Dudley Ward, had American family connections.

They were married, as was his current flame, Wallis Simpson. The German leader sent his trusted emissary von Ribbentrop to court the couple. Wallis SimpsonEPA He was more successful than Hitler could ever imagined. Within weeks telegrams were flying between Berlin, Washington and London as diplomats gossiped about how Ribbentrop had charmed Mrs. Simpson into bed. He was said to send her 17 carnations, one for every time they had made love, to her apartment of Bryanston Court in central London. When he heard about the behavior of his right-hand man, even the humorless Herr Hitler joked with him about the saucy stories, according to a Ribbentrop biographer. While Mrs. Simpson always denied the rumors, her great friend Mary Raffray, who ended up becoming Ernest Simpson’s third wife, insisted the torrid tales were true. Though Ribbentrop courted and charmed Mrs. Simpson, he was focused on seducing the future king and making him a Nazi ally. For a time he was wildly successful. The prince agreed to promote reciprocal visits by German and British war veterans.

When he was told off by his father, King George V, for dabbling in politics, he was later seen goose stepping around Mrs. Simpson’s apartment, a storm trooper’s hat on his head. Like many of his class, Edward was instinctively sympathetic to Hitler’s far-right regime. During the 1920s he had seen the collapse of Weimar Germany, the mass unemployment, crippling inflation and virtual civil war between left and right and believed that a strong leader could restore stability and prosperity. When (Hitler) occupied the Rhineland in March 1936 — against all international agreements — he relied on the new king to support him. Moreover the duke loathed Bolshevik Russia and, until his dying day, never forgave or forgot how the Communists ordered the murder of his godfather Tsar Nicholas II and family in 1918. It shaped his political thinking, believing that a strong Germany would act as a bulwark against a resurgent Russia, hoping that one day the two countries would slug it out between themselves while Britain enjoyed the fruits of Empire. Such was the alarm about Edward’s behavior that Scotland Yard detectives were secretly ordered to follow him and the Simpsons. They discovered that Mrs.

Simpson was enjoying another affair with Guy Trundle, a used-car salesman. At Buckingham Palace and inside Downing Street, the Simpsons were considered blackmailers and Wallis was suspected of spying for the Nazis. The new king was so careless with his red boxes — the state papers that contain top-secret documents about government policy — that some advisors feared that Mrs. Simpson might pass important military secrets to Ribbentrop. Hitler, though, was delighted with the new king, seeing him as a Nazi ally. When he occupied the Rhineland in March 1936 — against all international agreements — he relied on the new king to support him. He was not disappointed, Edward Vlll urging the prime minister to take no action against Germany. ‘Operation Cleopatra whim’ Like almost everyone, Hitler was shocked when Edward Vlll gave up his throne in order to marry Mrs. Simpson. He couldn’t understand it. Hitler was a man who wanted to rule the world, Edward had given up an empire for a woman who, by his own admission, he had not even slept with.

When they married in a French chateau, only a handful of their friends and none of their family attended, the couple now exiled from England. King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson after their wedding in 1937.AP The duke and duchess, meanwhile, acted as if World War II was simply a minor inconvenience to their lifestyle. In 1940, when he and his wife were in Spain and Portugal, Edward had been in secret contact with the Nazis about looking after their luxury villas in Paris and the South of France. The duchess was most concerned that their bed linens be protected from damage. Even the diplomat brother of Spanish dictator Francisco Franco was horrified by the duke’s behavior. “A prince does not ask favours of his country’s enemies. To request the handing over of things he could replace or dispense with is not correct.” Wallis Simpson and Edward VIII in 1953.ZumaPress The duchess had other pressing concerns. She had left her favorite Nile green swimsuit behind at their villa in the South of France. It was vital it be returned. To this end she enlisted the American Minister in Lisbon and the American consul in Nice to repatriate the garment.

Even though their rented villa was locked and shuttered and that part of the coast occupied by the enemy, the diplomats duly did her bidding. In the midst of war the swimsuit was found and despatched safely to the grateful duchess. The task was known privately as “Operation Cleopatra Whim.” Their self-indulgence knew no bounds. With the Nazis poised to invade England in the summer of 1940, Winston Churchill spent precious hours acting as the duke’s travel agent. To keep him out of mischief, Churchill had appointed him governor of the Bahamas. The duke demurred and the prime minister threatened him with court-martial if he did not obey orders. In the acrimonious back and forth between the two men, the Duke insisted that he could only serve as governor if two serving soldiers were taken out of the army to work as his manservants. Then the ducal couple wanted to sail to New York on a Madison Avenue shopping trip before he would take up his appointment. By contrast, with a Nazi invasion imminent, the new king and queen were learning how to shoot pistols. When they sailed for the Bahamas, they left not a moment too soon.

For weeks Hitler and Ribbentrop had plotted to kidnap the ex-king and his wife. Hitler had sent his top spymaster, Walter Schellenberg to coordinate a small army of German agents who were poised to snatch the couple from their temporary home in Lisbon. The scheme even had a code name, “Operation Willi.” The Fuhrer hoped to install Edward back on the throne once the Nazis conquered England. Hitler had ordered Spanish friends of the duke to try and convince him to stay in Europe, offering him a castle in southern Spain and more than $100 million dollars as sweeteners. But the duke and duchess were terrified by Nazi-inspired rumors that the British intended to murder them — a reasonable assumption given Churchill’s acrimonious relationship with the ex-king. Under enormous pressure, the couple to the Bahamas, and Hitler was left empty-handed. The Windsor file Wallis Simpson and Edward VIIIstand at the entrance of the Villa De La Croe in Cap Antibes, Cannes, in 1939 where they celebrated the New Year.AP Though Edward and Wallis were out of sight, the end of the war brought a new headache.

After his abdication, Hitler invited the duke and duchess to visit Germany in October 1937. It was the chance for the duke to show his new wife that though he was no longer king, nothing really had changed. They were met by marching bands and cheering crowds, the duke infamously exchanging Nazi salutes with his hosts. The duke even enjoyed a 50-minute private conversation with Hitler at his mountain retreat. The potentially incendiary contents of this tête-à-tête remained a mystery even to the “documents men” who pored over top secret Nazi files at the war’s end. King George VI, the duke’s stuttering younger brother who took over when he abdicated, was “deeply agitated” by the existence of the Windsor file. Even Churchill, who had fallen out with the duke over his wartime behavior, believed the contents of the Windsor dossier should be destroyed lest it damage the standing of the monarchy. They had an ally in Dwight Eisenhower, then Allied supreme commander. He agreed with Churchill and ordered the Windsor file destroyed. The world would have been no wiser about the antics of the Duke of Windsor but for a couple of American academics.

When the order first went out to obliterate the incriminating royal file, Stanford University Prof. David Harris, then working with the State Department, resisted the government Goliath, arguing that it was against the law for government officials to destroy documents. His argument prevailed, causing severe strain to the “special relationship.” It took the efforts of historian Dr. Paul Sweet to stop the British from delaying publication. In the end the wrangle over the Windsor file lasted longer than World War II itself; it was not until 1957 that the file was published. The duke escaped largely unscathed, perhaps because he was, by that point, so irrelevant. As for the British monarchy — it still survives in spite of Hitler and his royal allies. Adapted from “17 Carnations: The Royals, the Nazis and the Biggest Cover Up in History” by Andrew Morton, to be published by Grand Central on March 10. Share this:

Question: The Edward and Mrs Simpson affair rocked the world in 1936. What was the first name of Mrs Simpson?
Answer: Wallis